Owen Andrew Caissie (born July 8, 2002) is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Owen Caissie
Caissie with the Iowa Cubs in 2024
Chicago Cubs
Outfielder
Born: (2002-07-08) July 8, 2002 (age 22)
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Amateur career

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Caissie grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.[1] Caissie played for Canada's Junior National team.[2]

Professional career

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San Diego Padres

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The San Diego Padres drafted Caissie in the second round, with the 45th overall selection, of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. He was the first player from Canada selected.[3] He signed with the team on June 24, 2020, and received a $1,200,004 signing bonus.[4] Caissie spent the remainder of the summer training in Ontario due to the 2020 minor league season being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

Chicago Cubs

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On December 29, 2020, the Padres traded Caissie, pitcher Zach Davies, Reginald Preciado, Yeison Santana, and Ismael Mena to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Yu Darvish and catcher Víctor Caratini.[6] He began the 2021 minor league season with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Cubs, where he batted .349 with six home runs before being promoted to the Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.[7]

In 2022, Caissie played in 105 games for the High–A South Bend Cubs, hitting .254/.349/.402 with 11 home runs, 58 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. In the 2022 Arizona Fall League he batted .220.

Caissie spent the 2024 season with the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, playing in 127 games and slashing .278/.375/.473 with 19 home runs, 75 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Following the season, the Cubs added Caissie to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[8]

International career

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Caissie played for the Canadian national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Burlington's Owen Caissie expects to hear his name in Wednesday's MLB Draft". The Hamilton Spectator. June 9, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (March 24, 2020). "Prospect Owen Caissie's rise on hold as makeshift workouts replace games". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Caissie first Canadian picked at MLB Draft". TSN.ca. The Canadian Press. June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Report: Canadian outfielder Owen Caissie signs with Padres". Sportsnet.ca. June 24, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Brudnicki, Alexis (September 3, 2020). "Padres 2nd-rounder a student of the game". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Cubs nab ranked quartet from Padres".
  7. ^ McGraw, Mike (August 23, 2021). "Cubs manager Ross says Contreras could DH this week". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Cubs Designate Brennen Davis, Adbert Alzolay For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Classic experience: Prospect Caissie getting MLB taste with Canada". MLB.com.
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